Brig. Gen. Matthew “4” Reilman is the Chief of Staff, Ninth Air Force, Air Forces Central, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He is responsible for leading, managing and integrating all activities of the headquarters staff, sustaining wings and direct reporting units. He directs a headquarters staff of approximately 2,300 joint and coalition warfighters in support of combat operations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. As the primary liaison between CENTCOM, the Combined Air Operations Center and six air expeditionary wings, he synchronizes 27,000 Airmen conducting combat operations through partner nation integration. Additionally, he advises the AFCENT commander on a broad range of operations, administration and organize, train and equip activities and translates the Combined Forces Air Component Commander’s intent and priorities into actionable outcomes. Previously, Brig. Gen. Reilman commanded the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow AFB, Texas.
Brig. Gen. Reilman commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 2000. He completed intelligence officer training in 2001 and graduated from United States Air Force Weapons School in 2004. A career intelligence officer, he commanded the 7th Intelligence Squadron at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, as well as numerous operational and staff assignments ranging from the squadron to the combatant command level. He is a qualified Title 10 Deputy Commander for Defense Support to Civil Authorities operations and deployed to Columbia, South Carolina, in support of the South Carolina National Guard for Hurricane Florence relief efforts.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
2004 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Arts, Political Science, National Security Studies, American Military University, W.Va.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Title 10 Deputy Commander for Defense Support to Civil Authority Operations, Colo.
2021 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston
2022 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000–June 2001, Student, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 2001–June 2003, Chief, Aircrew Intelligence Support, 9th Intelligence Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
3. June 2003–June 2004, Intelligence Flight Commander, 9th Operations Support Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
4. June 2004–December 2004, Student, 19th Intelligence Squadron, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. June 2005–July 2008, Chief, Intelligence Training and then Chief, Intelligence Standardization and Evaluation, 366th Operations Support Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
6. July 2008–July 2010, Chief, Intelligence Training and then Assistant Director of Operations, Intelligence Weapons Instructor Course, 19th Intelligence Squadron, USAFWS, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. July 2010–July 2012, Director of Operations and Collection Division Chief, 451st Intelligence Squadron, RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom
8. July 2012–June 2013, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2013–June 2014, Chief, AF/A2 Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. June 2014–July 2016, Commander, 7th Intelligence Squadron and Tailored Access Office Liaison for U.S. Cyber Command Operations, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
11. July 2016–June 2017, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2017–June 2019, Chief, Intelligence Operations Division, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command J2, Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. June 2019–October 2019, Deputy Director for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Readiness and Talent Management, AF/A2/6, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. November 2019–June 2021, Director of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR and Cyber Effects Operations, AF/A2/6, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. July 2021–June 2023, Commander, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
16. June 2023–present, Chief of Staff, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw AFB, S.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2017–June 2019, Chief, Intelligence Operations Division, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command J2, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of December 2025)